Modi in Croatia: When the Gayatri Mantra Echoed Across Europe

Poonam Sharma
On his recent visit to Croatia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand and emotionally charged welcome that resonated deeply with the soul of India’s ancient spiritual heritage. The air was filled with the melodious and powerful chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred Vedic hymn that holds immense philosophical, spiritual, and cultural significance. As Croatian children recited it in perfect Sanskrit, the world witnessed something deeply symbolic: India’s ancient wisdom finding deep respect overseas, while being increasingly sidelined within its own homeland.

This moment was not just diplomatic grandeur; it was a subtle, yet resounding, call to introspection for every Indian.

Gayatri Mantra: Essence of Vedic Knowledge
The Gayatri Mantra, found in the Rig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10), is more than just a chant—it is a mantra of illumination and awakening. Its words invoke the divine force of Savitur, the Sun, asking for guidance and clarity of intellect:

“Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat”

Translated, it means: “We meditate on the divine brilliance of the Sun God. May He enlighten our intellect.”

For millennia, this mantra has been central to the Indian way of life. It represents the unity of science, spirituality, and intellect—calling not for blind belief but enlightened consciousness. It is universal in its approach, non-sectarian in its appeal, and eternal in its relevance.

Global Embrace of India’s Spiritual Legacy
The enthusiastic recitation of the Gayatri Mantra in Croatia is not an isolated example. Across the globe—from yoga studios in California to meditation retreats in Germany, from wellness centers in Japan to chanting groups in South America—India’s Vedic mantras and philosophy are being rediscovered, revered, and practiced.

International universities now offer courses in Sanskrit and Indian philosophy. Research papers explore the cognitive benefits of mantra meditation. Neuroscience studies validate how Vedic chants affect brainwaves, promote mental clarity, and reduce stress. Western scholars, seekers, and leaders are openly acknowledging India’s ancient knowledge systems as transformative.

This external validation should be a matter of pride—but it also begs a troubling question.

Why Is India Turning Away from Its Own Roots?
While the West is embracing the Gayatri Mantra, sections of Indian society are increasingly shunning it. In the name of modernity, secularism, or distorted political narratives, there is a growing discomfort—even disdain—for symbols of India’s cultural identity.

In some schools, morning prayers have been diluted or replaced due to misplaced fears of “religious overtones.” Certain intellectual circles mock Vedic chants as “regressive.” In some cases, court petitions have even been filed to ban the recitation of mantras in public institutions.

Ironically, what the world views as India’s soft power, some Indians deride as outdated ritualism.

This disconnect is not just cultural—it’s civilizational. A country that forgets its roots, sooner or later, loses its identity. And in a time of global cultural homogenization, preserving one’s own heritage becomes a revolutionary act.

The Gayatri Mantra Is Not Religious—It Is Universal
It’s critical to understand that the Gayatri Mantra is not a sectarian chant. It does not belong to any single religion, caste, or community. It is a universal call to higher wisdom and consciousness, applicable to every human being, regardless of belief.

Even Jawaharlal Nehru, no spiritualist by disposition, referred to the Gayatri Mantra as a hymn that “touches the soul of India.” Swami Vivekananda described it as “the most spiritual prayer ever composed by the human mind.”

And yet today, there are attempts to brand such symbols as “exclusive” or “divisive.” This is not just a misunderstanding—it is an injustice to India’s pluralistic spiritual tradition.

Reclaiming Our Cultural Confidence
What Prime Minister Modi witnessed in Croatia should inspire a cultural awakening within India. If children in Eastern Europe can take pride in chanting a Vedic mantra in perfect Sanskrit, why should Indian children be deprived of the same joy, the same connection, the same cultural grounding?

It is time for India to stop apologizing for its civilization. It is time to reclaim the confidence to teach our children that Gayatri is not superstition, but strength; not dogma, but direction.

This doesn’t mean imposing one view on everyone—it means recognizing the inherent pluralism and intellectual depth of our traditions. It means understanding that mantras, like the Gayatri, are meant to elevate the mind, not restrict it.

Education, Not Erasure
India must find a way to integrate its ancient wisdom with its modern aspirations. Let our education system introduce students to the philosophical richness of the Vedas, the ethical clarity of the Upanishads, and the introspective brilliance of the Gayatri Mantra—not to preach, but to provoke thought.

Just as mathematics, science, and literature are taught without fear of indoctrination, so too can mantras be taught for their linguistic, poetic, and psychological value.

 A Wake-Up Call from Croatia
Prime Minister Modi’s warm reception in Croatia, marked by the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, should serve as a symbolic alarm bell for Indians.

While the world bows in respect to India’s spiritual heritage, parts of India seem too eager to disown it. This trend is not just unfortunate—it is dangerous. Cultural amnesia weakens nations.

As India strides confidently into the future, it must carry the light of its past. The Gayatri Mantra is not just a prayer—it is a call to awaken the intellect, a voice that transcends time, religion, and geography.

Let us not wait for the world to value what we possess before we begin to cherish it ourselves.